Toy train operating and collecting

Interesting past couple of days.  Yesterday morning opened the door from the house to the garage and pushed the button to open the overhead door and heard an EXPLOSION followed by what sounded like breaking glass. The tremendous noise was the coil spring breaking into two pieces..  Fortunately, no broken glass as replacing the spring was expensive enough. I think what I thought was breaking glass was just the lift cables coming loose.

Today I attempted to replace the O2 sensor in the catalytic convertor on the Impala.  Code indicates it is bad.  My brother who was a professional mechanic for many years said I would be able to do this myself. First tried to remove old one using a crow foot wrench.  Not happening. So I went to Autozone and rented an O2 socket kit.  Tried to remove with the larger socket in the kit.   Broke the socket.  Went back and got another kit.  Still not happening. Talked to my brother again and he suggested heating with a propane torch.  Chicken to do that as I had soaked with liquid wrench and didn't want to start a fire.  Try again after letting the liquid wrench soak for a couple days.

Karen says thing always happen in three's.  Wonder what will break next?

The Indians are really beating up on the A's, 13 - 3 in the top of the sixth. 

Good evening all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 80s.  Lucas and I mowed the yard.  I walked to the YMCA and did weights and walked back home.  Had lunch.  Drove truck to shop to have AC looked at, walked to YMCA again and back home.  Rested a while.  Went outside, edged sidewalks and trimmed the fences and other areas.  Tired.  I had bran muffins on the dining car for breakfast this morning.  The "saucy wench" did the housework so the next two days are pretty much free.  IRL is at Watkins Glen.  Last year's winner is driving last year's second place car and hopefully that will translate into a win for AJ's team.  Beacon is lit.  Who is driving?  Is Don B's neighbor going to be there?  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

Hey Mike - I got a card from Don's neighbor yesterday, it said "MMMMOOOO XOXOXOXO"  What do you think that means?    Wes is driving tonight, he's been goofing off too much lately like Bob, playing with blood pressure meds.  Hope you guys are both doing better ASAP!

Went to see Transformers 2 which was great, but really long!  Picked up a $6 screwdriver set and tackled Thomas this afternoon.  I would have to remove the eye mechanism to put in the tmcc board though, so I will have to get some wire and shrink wrap and make a tether to the S C Ruffy car.  Now I wish I had bought the sound board too, lol!  Oh well - I might add that later.  Tomorrow I will get 5 colors of wire and some shrink tube.  Need to make a fake load for the car.  What does it usually haul on the tv shows, anybody know?

Nice talking with RT, SJ and Wes tonight.  Now I'm watching Get Smart with the kids and enjoying a Sam Adams Ale (not the Summer Ale, regular kind).  Beacons on the screen and plently of Ales and Rootbeers for everybody, plus some Old Mills for the traditionalists   TTFN!

Morning all geting ready to go to work but wanted to first stop in and say Happy 4th of July to you all

Happy 4th boys!  Sunny & 66, in what is being touted as one of the more pretty Independence days in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Plans are to go to the swim club, before fifey has to report to work at 1800 for the fireworks detail.  Will have my hands full from 2100-2230, so don't call me then Chief...

Happy July 4th !!!!!!!

May your country remain STRONG and FREE!!!!!

-------------------------------------

We got SUN!!!!!!

Can you tell we've been getting desperate for this?? Now I get to cut the lawn, do weeding and move plants out on the garden patio----etc---etc---etc

Have a good one-----

Aloha all. Happy Fourth. Took the youngest to our local carnival - just like a movie set, with all the characters working the midway - and the visitors. He had fun - five rides, one game, cotton candy - and it cost only $23.

Brutus, everyone knows S.C. Ruffy are ballast contractors in Tidemouth. And Sodor's balllast is a tad bigger than what we see in the States. You'd be OK with any sort of rocks - say a cover of them on a foam rubber insert.

GregM, glad you're OK- that's not something to fix on your own. I had one of those coils break and go right through a wall.

    USA 

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a sunny 65 degrees. Going up to 77 today with some clouds.

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

Today is busy. Lots of chores to do and then I will relax, and watch the Nascar race from Daytona. Ballgame tonite.  The Indians really beat up on Oakland last night. I wish they played that good every game.

Dining car was here for the usual breakfast.

Y'all have a great Saturday.

Chuck

Doug - thanks for the info!  Gonna hit the stores for some wire and stuff, guess I will look at some "cover" for it too   Wife gave me a long shopping list.  Finally quit raining and looks like all clear for now - woke up with a big storm overhead and it really pounded down rain for a while.

Happy Independence Day to all! 

Tardis will have to use the Cloaking Device and Forcefields tonight so we don't get shot down!

Good morning all,

It is cloudy in SE Indiana.  Lucas and his girlfriend are here so we will probably play a board game.  The "saucy wench" and I will probably go see "Transformers" today for some mindless entertainment.  Ryan Hunter-Reay did not have a good practice session for AJ's team during the first session.  Hopefully it will improve. I had bacon, toast and cereal on the dining car this morning for breakfast. Beacon is lit.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

 Happy 4th Everybody!

We had a wonderful rain last night. First big thunderstorm we've had here for the season. Actually got a decent's nights sleep for the first time in over a week, so apparently my dietary changes are working. With the blood sugar under control the meds are keeping the BP under control, maybe even overshooting a bit.  Legs are doing better, but I still have to minimize how much time I am up and around.

Supposed to go to a party later with a bunch of medical types. How ironic is that? They will undoubtebly stick me in a lawn chair, feed me a burger w/o the bun, and toss me vegetables on occasion. Later we will try and catch the fireworks from the roof of one the university garages. At least with all the rain they won't set the grass on A Mountain on fire. 

Recently related my favorite 4th of July story recently and thought I'd share it here as well. I was doing my summer pilgramage to the rez in South Dakota (which of course I am not doing this year) and it was a few days before the 4th. It was our day off from projects, and I volunteered to help fix a van of one of the sisters whom we have befriended in the town we work in. One of the other members on the trip who I had replaced an alternator for in the church parking lot came with me to help. It was around dusk and I think I was still fighting a stubborn plug wire up against the firewall. The kids in the nearby houses were lighting off fireworks. The Lakota kids just love fireworks. Well it was summer and fairly dry and they managed to set some of the grass on fire, then more grass, and then the base of a telephone pole. The kids and the fireworks disappeared, but then they were right back w/ buckets and garden hoses and put the fire out. Then back to the houses and doors shut and lights off, so when the RFD arrived the fire was out and there was no one to blame. It reminded me of two of the best things about this country. The spirit of adventure and bravado together w/ a sense of responsibility. We just kind of smiled and laughed and went back to work on the van.

Have a good 4th!

Bob

 Good story, Bob. Steady rain here. Good basement day. Glad parade and fireworks are tomorrow - Bride going bonkers prepping for this graduation party nee open house for the daughter. That means we all have to go bonkers - I'm sure everyone knows  how that is.

Happy 4th all !

Be sure to save some room for Apple Pie & Ice Cream.

Doug M., Been there done that. If you think it's bad now just wait awhile for the grandkids.

Gotta run, need to finish cleaning & servicing yesterday's trains then pack up for tuesday.